With public transit systems around Chicagoland and across Illinois approaching a fiscal cliff, proposed legislation in Springfield would provide financial assistance to more than 50 downstate agencies.
State Sen. Dave Koehler, Peoria Mayor Rita Ali and CityLink general manager Kofi Kisseh discussed the importance of keeping public transportation funded during a town hall meeting Monday presented by the Heart of Illinois Sierra Club.
“A public transportation system is as vital to this community as it is to the city of Chicago,” said Koehler, D-Peoria, during the nearly 90-minute discussion that drew an audience of more than 50 community members.
Without state assistance, the Chicago-area transit systems are facing a $770 million shortfall. Proposed legislation calls for a statewide flat $1.50 tax on all non-medical and grocery deliveries as the main funding support for transit agencies.
“If we don't do anything, then not only does the Chicago system fall apart, which doesn't really affect us,” said Koehler. “But it does affect us in terms of our own local transit systems because they would face about a $200 million shortfall.
“Now, in a place like Peoria and Rockford or the Quad Cities or Bloomington or Springfield, transit isn't maybe the essential that it is for Chicago. I mean, in Chicago it's just that you sometimes can't afford to have a car. Downstate, it's a little different, but it's still important.”
Koehler said the Illinois Senate approved its version of a funding bill in the spring, but it stalled in the House.
“The House is now working on that to try to bring that back to the Senate so we can actually pass something,” he said, adding he’s hopeful it will be approved during the October veto session so the state would be able to collect the tax beginning July 1.
“This bill has to pass. Whether it passes in veto session or in January, that remains to be seen,” said Koehler.
Under the bill, in addition to providing funding for downstate transit systems as they seek to meet anticipated growth in demand, agencies would see the local match amount reduced from 35% to 25% for access to the Downstate Public Transit Fund.
Also, the legislation includes policy changes to assist development near bus and rail corridors to increase accessibility, and formation of a committee within the Illinois Department of Transportation focusing on transit reform and integration within the various bus and rail networks across the state.
“Coordination only comes with collaboration, right? We have to work together — not as competitors, but as collaborators, to make this all happen for us,” said Ali, who also touted Peoria’s ongoing efforts in pursuit of a passenger rail connection to Chicago.
“It's important that we continue this project for Peoria and Central Illinois, that we get the support that will come from this legislation.”
Kisseh said the funding assistance would help CityLink rebound from a decline in ridership experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said while the system averaged around 2.5-2.6 million riders annually prior to the pandemic, it fell to around 1.2 million before trending up to about 1.8 million currently.
“When it comes to this bill in question, it is very clear that CityLink as a beneficiary stands to gain as much as any other public transit system in the state,” said Kisseh, noting the state funding assistance would allow CityLink to consider expanding its services in certain areas.
“A bill like this would also help enhance certain things like safety, security, investments in newer technologies and the manpower part of this,” he added. “We employ quite a few people here in Peoria, so having something that is sustainable is very important to the community at large.”
